Free the Andro to host public meeting with expert panelists

Brunswick Residents Invited to Discuss Fish Passage at Dam

A Brunswick community meeting will explore ways to restore fish passage across the town’s century‑old dam, bringing together experts in engineering, biology, and environmental policy. The event, hosted by the nonprofit Free the Andro, is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 15 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at the Curtis Memorial Library on 23 Pleasant St.

Free the Andro, a local group focused on reconnecting the Androscoggin River’s migratory fish, will moderate the discussion. Chip Spies, the organization’s founder, will lead questions from the public and coordinate the panel’s presentation.

The panel will feature:

• Bina Skordas, senior project manager and climate and watershed solutions lead at FB Environmental, who will discuss potential engineering solutions.
• Brett Towler, Ph.D., PE, senior fish passage engineer with Gomez and Sullivan, the firm representing dam owner Brookfield Renewable Partners, who will explain the owner’s perspective and technical constraints.
• Nate Gray, sea‑run fisheries and habitat biologist with the Maine Department of Marine Resources, who will provide insight into the ecological benefits of improved fish passage.

The meeting’s objective is to review a range of design options that could allow fish to move freely upstream and downstream of the Brunswick Dam after more than a century of blockage. Participants will hear about how enhanced passage could revive fish populations, strengthen local ecosystems, and potentially create new economic opportunities for communities along the Androscoggin River watershed.

Free the Andro’s mission is to “restore abundant and sustainable migratory fish passage at the Brunswick dam to connect communities, revive fish populations and broaden economic opportunities.” The nonprofit seeks community support and partnership as it works toward that goal.

The event is sponsored by the Times Record’s sustaining sponsor, Bowdoin College, which underscores a broader commitment to informing the public about local environmental initiatives.

Community members interested in the future of the Androscoggin River’s fish populations are encouraged to attend and share their perspectives. The meeting is open to all, with no registration required.